My Vision For Grain Quality And Structure Research

My Vision For Grain Quality And Structure Research And Biographical Sketch Sumana Chakrabarti Bell, Ph. D Presented at USDA, Manhattan, 1/10/08

Outline • • Sumana’s Biographical Sketch Grain Quality Research – Background Vision Strategies Managing Change Management philosophy Summary 12/5/2020 2

Who is Sumana? Heritage & Family • Native of Calcutta, India • Early schooling in small town in India • One husband (pharmacist), two cats 12/5/2020 3

Education and Career • Ph. D. , Polymer Physical Chemistry, University of Minnesota, USA • M. Sc. , Physical Chemistry, Calcutta, India • Program leader, Fracture Fluid Rheology (British Petroleum in UK, Schlumberger in USA, France) • Program leader, food and dough rheology (Kraft, Chicago and General Mills, Minneapolis) 12/5/2020 4

Prior Research • Ph. D: Gelation of rigid rod polymers by spinodal decomposition of phase separation • Strength of physical gels = f (mechanism of gel formation) • Oil-field: Rheology control of fracture fluids • Fluids carry proppant • Create filter cake to prevent fluid leak-off • Lose viscosity at the end • Clean break-up

Key Take Away: Oil-Field Research “ Flow affects cross-link density of chemical gels” In Waring blender, brittle gel In porous media, ropy fluid Insights applied in developing continuous processing of yogurt

Prior Research Food & Dough: “Converting Art To Science” • Defining “performance” using mechanics • Converting learnings into practice • Relating performance to structure – composition 12/5/2020 7

Key Take Way “Plasticity is Key” • Dough changes with deformation • The rate of change determines end-use quality Optimal 12/5/2020 Undermixed 8

Grain Quality Challenges to The US Farmers “ In farming, everybody makes money except the farmer” ……. … Michael Pollen, The Omnivore’s Dilemma • Excessive emphasis on processed foods and industrialization have decimated self-sustaining farms • Soil quality threatened from excessive farming 12/5/2020 9

Grain Quality Challenges to The US Farmers • US is the largest exporter of wheat • Faces competition from abroad (Canada, Australia) • Competition claims superior consistency & quality • Effects of global warming on yield and quality are un-certain • Consumers want more value in foods (convenience, health, nutrition) 12/5/2020 10

Grain Quality Opportunities • Globalization = localization • More markets open to farmers – Energy producers , Pharmaceuticals • Demand for whole grain products is on the rise • Market wants new products (health additives, processing aids, shelf-life quality aids) • Tremendous advances in technology that could be used to facilitate grain quality inspection 12/5/2020 11

Grain Quality Challenges to Innovation ü Yield ü Grain health ü Milling quality ü Protein quantity X Protein quality X End-use quality Need to have the know-how to relate all quality attributes with structure and composition for faster success 12/5/2020 12

Vision for Grain Quality Research “ We want to empower USDA and thus, US farmers, with options for attaining sustainable competitive advantages, by adding value to existing applications , by leading innovations and by growing and supplying grains that are differentiated from competition on the basis of superior functionality and quality, in the current climate of global competition ” 12/5/2020 13

Strategies • Develop a center of excellence in grain quality analysis that’s effective in developing new technologies and in implementing current strategies of USDA • Transfer research results into production and commercially usable strategies for U. S. farmers to serve the food and non-food sectors of pharmaceuticals and energy • Introduce educational programs for the customers and participants – technical and non-technical audiences 12/5/2020 14

Center of Excellence in Grain Quality “ Disappointing progress in dough rheology, (handicaps research impact on agronomy)” …. . Don Kasarda (USDA), Gluten Workshop, 2006 • Follow Ed Bagley’s footsteps and make USDA again the leader in fundamentals of grain processing 12/5/2020 15

Center of Excellence in Grain Quality • Build a state-of- the- art laboratory that’s capable of utilizing structure – end-use performance of grains to add value to grain production • Predictive methodology for processing operations • Instrumentation to test the physics as well as the chemistry • Capability for small scale simulation of novel processes to test research hypotheses 12/5/2020 16

Center of Excellence in Grain Quality Make structure – material science impactful • Add “processability and consistent performance” to the list of quality attributes • Explore the non-linear relationships in converting grains to products and develop novel products and processes • Develop predictive technologies to assess quality – for farmers, for processors and for crop-breeders 12/5/2020 17

Center of Excellence Innovate • Develop value added grains (wheat, sorghum, rice) and additives – – Easy milling wheat without compromising end-use quality Processing aids Sorghum flour for bread-making? Pharmaceuticals , Oil-field chemicals, Bio-degradable plastics • Develop easy to use tools and methods to monitor “quality” 12/5/2020 18

Center of Excellence in Grain Quality Innovate • Collaborate with DOE funded bio-fuel research centers to utilize external R&D facilities and expertise – Develop more efficient processes and materials for generation of bio-fuels – Enzo-rheology is critical to rate of production of Ethanol • Collaborate with pharmaceutical R&D organizations to develop novel applications of grain-based materials – Hydrogels? 12/5/2020 19

Implementation Of Research Into Practice • Collaborate with industries and USDA partners from the start to ensure “buy-in” from customers • Patent technology as and when appropriate • Build credibility – Publish – Hold training classes – Consult for industries 12/5/2020 20

Managing Change Current Research Environment • • Distrust for fundamental research Lack of funding Shifts in “business priorities” More focus on shorter term research by industry Sign of Hope “Break-through technologies” are in demand US industries are not doing it! 12/5/2020 21

Managing Change Special Challenges To Grain Scientists • Industrialized food production systems demand linearized processes – consistency, predictability, interchangeability and economies of scale • But, agronomy is not linear • Grain based products (wheat flour dough, in particular) are also non-linear in behavior • Manage non-linear materials for “linear” expectations 12/5/2020 22

Managing Change Things to do • Encourage scientist to develop collaborative programs with food and bio-fuel industries • Seek corporate funding • Undertake shorter term research • Maintain USDA tradition and initiate “change” • Have small successes --- frequently Collaborate, collaborate

Management Philosophy “Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand. ” …………. . Chinese proverb • Filament stretching device • ALE training course 12/5/2020 24

Management Principles • Lead by vision and empowerment • Team-work: always value and incorporate teaminputs—preserve the best • Focus on objectives and encourage individuals to realize their full potential • Grow effective scientists and engineers • Be challenged • Celebrate success and have fun

What Can I Bring To This Center • Industrial leadership and practical management philosophies • Practical, industrial knowledge with American and European corporate experience • Building teams across the nation among corporations, academia, and government • Multi-disciplinary and multinational approaches to solve scientific challenges • Proven consultancy-based contacts with major industries • Unique knowledge from food rheology research

The Ultimate Vision 12/5/2020 27

The Ultimate Vision 12/5/2020 Put a Smile on their faces 28

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